Tesla's dynamic infotainment system includes a growing number of video games, some use the car's steering wheel, while others use the touchscreen or require an external controller.
It is evident that Tesla’s Infotainment system will eventually be capable of next-gen level gaming with the introduction of Tesla's latest infotainment unit, MCU 3. With "up to 10 teraflops of processing power" it is only a matter of time until highly detailed games can be played directly in the car.
Tesla Controller
Tesla's controller
TeslaRaj/Twitter
Tesla revealed a proprietary wireless gaming controller at the Model S Plaid Delivery Event in June of 2021. The controller closely resembled a PS5 controller with two analog sticks, four directional buttons and four action buttons. The controller also resembles a steering wheel with a closed-loop design, likely to accommodate racing games.
Since the unveiling, we haven’t heard much about the proprietary controller until now. Tesla’s wireless gaming controller may be coming soon, suggests Javier Verdura, Tesla’s Director of Design. When asked in a recent Twitter conversation, if he would let us know before Tesla launches their own game controller, Verdura responded “Of Course!”
No further details have been provided by Tesla but this is a sign that a wireless gaming controller could be coming to the Tesla shop soon. You can expect it to connect via Bluetooth and likely cost somewhere between $50 and $80 USD.
Connect console controllers wirelessly
In the meantime, Tesla owners can still take advantage of the high-level gaming of the infotainment system using compatible wireless and wired controllers. Controllers like the PS4 and Xbox One controllers can only connect to a Tesla when connected via a USB cable.
Tesla Bluetooth support coming soon?
Lower_Brick9960/Reddit
However, some Teslas are now being delivered without the ability to transfer data from the front or rear USB ports, causing existing controllers to no longer work. The USB port in the glovebox is still capable of data transfer, but it's usually dedicated to a USB drive to be used with Tesla's Dashcam and Sentry Mode.
If your vehicle doesn't have USB ports that are capable of transfering data, you could use the USB port in the glovebox to connect a controller. However, Tesla doesn't believe this offers a good experience and it's why they're excluding games like Sonic from appearing in vehicles that do not have data capable USB ports.
This however, may be a temporary setback. In an unsubstantiated Reddit post, Tesla Service allegedly confirmed to a customer that “They [Tesla] are working on having controllers connect through Bluetooth in the vehicle and will release those games once they have the connectivity for the Bluetooth controllers ironed out.”
This seemingly points to Tesla introducing their own controller and/or allowing external controllers to connect via Bluetooth in the near future. You may soon be able to connect to your PS4 or Xbox One controller wirelessly to your Tesla.
Tesla owners can rest assured that it is only a matter of time before the proprietary wireless controller and/or console gaming controllers are able to wirelessly connect to Tesla's infotainment system.
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Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.
Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.
It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.
Advisor-led Demo
This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.
The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.
Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.
Vision-based Improvements
ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.
Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.
I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.
Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.
Actually Smart Summon
ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.
We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.
Park Seek and Banish Autopark
When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.
A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.
While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.
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